Jazz secures 190 MHz spectrum to boost Pakistan’s 5G rollout

Jazz, Pakistan’s leading connectivity provider under JazzWorld, announced it has acquired 190 MHz of additional spectrum in the country’s latest auction for USD 239.375 million. The move increases Jazz’s total spectrum holdings from 94.4 MHz to 284.4 MHz, reinforcing its commitment to expanding digital infrastructure.

The acquisition spans four frequency bands: 50 MHz in 3500 MHz, 70 MHz in 2600 MHz, 50 MHz in 2300 MHz, and 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band. The 700 MHz band is designed for wide-area coverage, helping to extend high-quality connectivity to rural and underserved areas.

Data usage in Pakistan remains below regional levels, with an average of 8 GB per customer last fiscal year, compared with roughly 20 GB in neighboring countries. Around 40% of subscribers still lack 4G access, and about 25% do not have mobile broadband, underscoring the need for further investment in foundational connectivity.

The additional spectrum will improve network performance, support nationwide 4G expansion, and lay the groundwork for phased 5G deployment in urban and enterprise settings. All deployments will comply with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regulations and rollout obligations.

Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of JazzWorld, said, “We appreciate the Government of Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and the PTA for conducting a historic spectrum auction that strengthens the foundation of Pakistan’s digital future. This acquisition reinforces JazzWorld’s digital ambition as we evolve into a full-scale ServiceCo, enabling us to progressively introduce 5G where it creates real value while expanding high-quality 4G connectivity for the masses.”

Jazz has invested over USD 11 billion in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure over the past three decades. The latest spectrum acquisition supports its transformation into JazzWorld, a digital ecosystem serving more than 100 million customers, highlighting the company’s confidence in Pakistan’s long-term digital growth.